Poacher Mauled to Death by Lions in South Africa

Poetic justice took a brutal turn recently after a big cat poacher was killed and eaten by the pride of lions he was hunting at a private game reserve in South Africa.

The hunter could be heard screaming for help as he was attacked at the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa, but the lions quickly devoured most of his body before being chased off, leaving his head untouched.

A hunting rifle was found close to what was left of the blood drenched body as police arrived at the scene, Daily Mail writes.

Police Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said: “The process of identifying this body has already commenced and it might be made easier as his head was amongst the remains found at the scene.”

Reserve described as Lions territory. Image: Daily Mail

A local worker from a nearby nature reserve, described the area as lion territory and added: “The head was still there but the lions had eaten most of the rest.

“A scream was heard and the lions were scattered by the sound of gunshots but it was too late to do anything for him. He was eaten.”

Lions kill up to 250 people a year in Africa and a male weighs 190kg and a female 130kg and they can ran at over 80kph and there are less than 20000 left in the wild in Africa.

Their bones have become highly prized in the Far East with a skeleton fetching up to £7,000 and the skin £3,000. Teeth can fetch £500 each.